Silent Epidemic (Book 1 - Carol Freeman Series)

by Jill Province

  Carol spelled it out for him. 

  “That is the basic compound of all the sedatives in that group.” 

  “How many are there?" Sandra asked. 

  “Too many," Carol said.  “There are probably about twenty different pharmaceutical names for the stuff, but it’s all pretty much the same thing.  The only difference between them is their half-life." 

  “Okay, now I’m totally lost," Jason said. 

  “The half-life determines how long it remains in your system.  Valipene has the longest half-life of all the sedatives in that group.”  

  Jason was writing furiously. 

  “Is it possible that Brian would have tested positive anyway?" Sandra asked. 

  “That’s a very good question," Carol said.  “But, no.  No way.  He had been off the drug long enough for it to be completely out of his system.” 

  “So, you have documented proof that this doctor was handing out sedatives?" Jason asked excitedly. 

  “Well, not exactly," Carol said.  

  Everyone looked at her in surprise, including Brian.  Carol did not want to have to admit her blunder, but she was cornered. “I was exhausted and stupid," she began.  “I just wanted the test result with the least amount of paperwork or hassle."  Everyone continued to look confused.  “See, we can’t send out urine specimens unless the patient has an opened chart." 

  “Kind of like an active billing account?" Sandra asked. 

  “Yes, that’s a perfect description," Carol agreed.  “Anyway, we can’t open a chart without a pile of paperwork and an appropriate diagnosis." 

  “So, that way you can’t provide special services for your Aunt Mable," Jason interjected. 

  “Exactly," Carol said.  “I would have had a really hard time justifying an open chart unless Brian was going to start coming in regularly for addiction counseling.  Plainly speaking, he didn’t qualify for services.”

  “I’m afraid to ask how you managed to pull this off," Brian interjected.

  “You should be," Carol said, holding her head with one hand.  Everyone waited for her to continue.  “I sent the sample out under an existing patient’s name," she blurted out finally.  “So, to answer your question, there is documentation of the test result, but it isn’t under Brian’s name." 

  Everyone at the table was silent.  

  “Well, we can’t use that," Sandra said, stating the obvious, “but don’t beat yourself up over this.  Under the circumstances, you did the only thing you could at the time."   

  “Thanks," Carol said.  “I was feeling really stupid about the way I handled it." 

  “Don’t,” Jason added.  “If this guy was handing out sedatives and telling his patients they were vitamins, there will be other remaining traces.” 

  “Yeah,” Sandra agreed.  “From what we’ve seen so far, he isn’t very bright, or careful."

  “After I got the test result," Carol continued, “I had to tell Brian that, like it or not, he was back on sedatives." 

  “I was devastated," Brian interjected.  “But I had no choice.  I had to start the whole withdrawal process over again.” 

  “And the first few weeks are horrendous to go through," Carol added.  

  “You guys are both very brave," Sandra commented. 

  “Sort of gets cancelled out by the initial stupidity of going on that poison to begin with," Brian said. 

  “There is so much anger and remorse that goes along with this nightmare," Carol explained.  

  Sandra just nodded her understanding.

  “Can you remember anything else about your visit with Donovan?" Jason directed, attempting to stay on track.  

  Brian thought for a moment. 

  “Well, one thing that grabbed my attention was the locked cabinet in the examination room.  It was packed solid with those little brown envelopes.  I asked the doctor if he was preparing for an epidemic." 

  “What’d he say?" Jason asked. 

  “He said that the vitamin sales people were very generous.”  Both reporters looked at Brian incredulously.  “Yeah, I know," he responded.  “I can’t believe I just fluffed over that one either.  But at the time, I was so sick I would have accepted a magic wand if he had offered one.”

  “So, where are the all the little brown envelopes?" Jason wondered out loud. 

  “Maybe that was what he had in the box," Sandra ventured. 

  “How big was that cabinet?" Jason asked. 

  “About six feet high and about three feet wide," Brian guessed. 

  “Too big," Sandra concluded. 

  “So, if he went to his office last night, knowing the heat was on, and didn’t try to remove them…" 

  “They were already gone," Sandra filled in. 

  “I wonder why he had already gotten rid of the brown envelopes," Jason pondered. 

  “Someone had already tipped him off," Sandra speculated.

  “Oh crap," Carol blurted out.  Everyone turned to her for an explanation.  “This guy… Jerry, someone.  He had called me from the company, checking on my progress in the study.  He seemed genuinely concerned when I told him how much trouble I was having.  So, after Brian’s little fiasco, I called him for some answers."

  “Uh huh," Jason said quietly. 

  “He had a completely different tone, the second time I spoke to him."   

  “How so?" Sandra asked. 

  “He sounded nervous," Carol reported.  “He suddenly had no connection with the study and wasn’t able to offer any immediate answers.  I just chalked it up to another case of ‘pass the buck,’ and forgot about it.” 

  “So, you didn’t pursue it again?" Jason prodded. 

  “Well, I wrote a letter to the state medical board, if that counts for anything," Carol responded.

  “How long ago was that?" Sandra asked. 

  “Probably about a month," Carol guessed. 

  “And no response from them?" Jason asked. 

  “It’s a government organization," Carol stated.  “It could take a long time before they do anything." 

  “If they do anything," Brian added.  “Donovan and his little vitamin caravan could have set up shop in Mexico by now." 

  “That’s what I meant by lost cause,” Carol concluded.

  “Carol," Jason said.  “Can you get me any information on this Jerry guy?  I think he is the next link in the chain." 

  “Sure," Carol answered.  “If he contacted me, he must have had access to all the study volunteers.” 

  “Well, this has been very interesting," the reporter announced, getting to his feet.  “Come on, Sandra, we have work to do.  Oh, and this is on me," he added, picking up the check.  “You have been very helpful, and besides, the paper will pay for it." 

  “Thanks," Brian said. 

  “Here’s my card," Jason said to Carol.  “If you think of anything else, please call me." 

  “I will," Carol assured him.

  After the reporters were gone, Carol turned to Brian and asked, “Do you think my call to Jerry tipped off the company?" 

  “Without a doubt," he said. 

  “Damn," Carol remarked.  Brian nodded in agreement. 

   

    

   

  Chapter 19

   

  Donovan shut the door behind the courier that had come for Sanders’s file, and turned to Sally.  She had been quite the trooper.  Not once did she resort to an “I told you so,” and had been working diligently since early morning to “repair the files.”  After they had completed the Sanders file, there had been elaborate notes added, documenting the patient’s refusal to resume his medication.  The records stated that his decision had been explicitly against medical advice, and that the patient had been counseled on the dangers of sedative withdrawal.  There was also a note added about
an office follow up with the patient by phone and that the patient had refused further treatment.  The doctor was pleased with the final version.  Every patient that had refused to return to the medication received the same notes added to their chart.  Fortunately for Donovan, there hadn’t been too many of them.  Most patients were terrified of what was happening to them and with a little added encouragement from a doctor, they were happy to resume taking the drug.  Donovan had convinced them that they would not be having so many problems going off the medication if they had not needed it in the first place. 

  Strangely, the man felt no remorse.  His compassion was specifically targeted to his immediate family and that was the extent of his ability to feel for others. When it came to medicine, Donovan did not see patients; he saw dollars.  He had shown his parents and brothers that he could turn anything into a money-making proposition.  He had a bigger house and a much nicer car than any of them.  Yeah, he had shown them!

  The doctor was glad he had taken the time to bring the charts home.  He had found many minor flaws that had been missed by the office staff and was able to take his time slowly reviewing each one.  By the end of the weekend, those charts would be ready for a magnifying glass – if it came down to it.

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

      

  Jerry had taken Sheila home the night before and then had left to go back to his own apartment.  There had been a few sexually tense moments, but both opted for baby steps.  Neither one of them had been prepared for the intense closeness they felt and both needed time to adjust to the idea.  

  Sheila was back in her domain. It felt like a mansion compared to the Economy Lodge.  She was lounging happily in front of the TV with her coffee when she caught a news update.  As the story unfolded, Sheila slowly sat up and turned up the volume.  

  “So, to recap yesterday’s tragedy, it has been confirmed that the gunman was Cobb County resident Terry Sanders.  Sanders appeared to be aiming his shots at random employees of Dominex Pharmaceuticals, with a final shot aimed at himself.  The words he was heard yelling just prior to the shooting were directed toward the company and a Doctor Donovan, who was seeing some of the volunteers from the drug company’s research study.  Sanders died shortly after arriving at Grady Hospital, at the age of forty-seven.  Turning to international news…”

  Sheila hit the mute button and stared at the screen.   

   What in the hell is going on?  She reached for the phone and dialed Jerry’s number.  “Have you seen the news yet?" 

  “And good morning to you to," Jerry answered. 

  “You aren’t going to believe this," Sheila continued, not responding to the jab.  She filled Jerry in on the news she had just watched. 

  “The guy actually shot himself and died?" Jerry asked incredulously.   

  “According to Channel Five," Sheila confirmed. 

  “Stay there," he directed.  “I have had enough phone conversations to last me a lifetime.  I’ll be right over."  

  Sheila busied herself running through all the local Atlanta channels hoping to find out more. 

   

  “There’s not a whole lot of information on the other channels," Sheila announced when she opened the door for Jerry. 

  “Well you might be interested in this," Jerry said, handing her the paper.   

  “How’d you get a Sunday edition already?” 

  “Its two o’clock in the afternoon, sleepy head," Jerry teased. 

  “I wish I could blame it on the change in time zones," Sheila laughed.  “But there wasn’t one.  I was fried from the trip."  Sheila shuffled back to the couch to read the front-page article. 

   

    SHOT MEANT FOR RANDOM EMPLOYEES TURNED LETHAL

  In a brief moment, the angry commotion of one faceless individual renders him dead, with a lot of unanswered questions.  The faceless individual was later identified as 47-year-old Terry Sanders.  A fatal shooting that took place Friday night at 6:35 PM in front of One Peachtree Plaza appeared to be aimed at Dominex Pharmaceuticals.

  Eyewitness provided police with a statement quoting Sanders as saying, “You beep [the word “assholes” was censored] are not going to get away with this.  You can’t quietly stick us under a rug.  You think shuffling us off to Donovan clears you?  The world knows what you’re doing… the world knows!” 

  Three shots were then fired in the direction of a few employees.  The shots were fired over the heads of the individuals, and there were no injuries.  Sanders then turned the gun on himself and fired one shot to the head.  He was pronounced dead within minutes of being transported to Grady Hospital.

  Mr. Sanders was separated with two children, ages 9 and 11.  The family has been unable to provide the police with any insight into the motive for such a tragic event.  His wife told this reporter that Sanders had become very depressed after the marital separation eight months ago.  He had been seeing a doctor who had been treating him for depression with medication.  Sanders reportedly responded well to treatment; however, shortly after entering a research study for the drug manufacturer, he had quickly de-compensated.  The family had received no contact from Sanders prior to his suicide.

  Dr. George Donovan told this reporter that the current research study at Dominex Pharmaceuticals involves the observation of medication termination.  The doctor stated that, “Some of the volunteers had a more difficult time going off their medication than others,” and that they had been referred to him by the drug company for treatment.  The doctor indicated that his follow-up treatment for these individuals involved monitoring their blood pressure only.

  Dominex Pharmaceuticals declined an interview and refused to comment on the study.  It is this reporter’s opinion that Sanders was attempting to make some kind of public statement, the nature of which never reached its target.  Therefore, further inquiries will be made into the senseless loss of one life.

  Article by Jason Sample and Sandra Jenson.

  Sheila put the paper down on the coffee table and looked at Jerry.  “This is going to be interesting for Dominex," she ventured. 

  “I think that’s an understatement."  

  “’Further inquiries,’" she repeated.  “You know they will continue to investigate this.” 

  “How long do you think it will take them to follow the trail to us?" Jerry asked nervously.  

  Sheila just shook her head.  She was deep in thought.

  “We need to put all that information you compiled in a really safe place," she announced finally. 

  “Wasn’t the whole idea to expose the truth?"  

  “Yes, but in my time frame, and by my rules, not theirs." 

  “Sweetie, with all due respect," Jerry interjected, “what’s the difference?"   

  “Dominex plays hard ball.  Any information that can be easily covered up or explained away will be washed over.  Look at how quickly they eliminated the vitamin scam.” 

  “I see your point," he conceded. 

  “We don’t have much time," she stated.  “Let’s go." 

  “Great," Jerry said, getting to his feet.  “Where are we going?" 

  “I know the perfect place," she announced, “I just need to make one quick phone call.”  Sheila went to her suitcase and pulled out her personal organizer. “Lucky I got everyone’s home number before I left Newark.” 

      “I’m beginning to think there is no such thing as luck where you’re concerned," he said, admiringly.   

  Sheila dialed the number and waited.   

  “Debra, I’m glad I caught you at home.  Listen, I have a very important package to send you.” 

  “Sure," Debra said. 

  “Keep it safe." 

  “Gotcha," the woman confirmed.  Sheila knew that her message was being received loud and clear.  This was not a package to keep lying around on someone’s coffee ta
ble.  A wall safe behind a painting was a better place.    

  “I’ll contact you when I need it," Sheila concluded. 

  “Even a thousand miles away, you’re still fun to work with," Debra added.    

  “I miss you guys too, and thanks."

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

   

  Josh had a little surprise waiting for him when he fired up his computer.  The “sell stop” he had established on the Dominex stock had kicked in when the market opened that Monday morning.  He had a feeling the little news item had scared a lot of traders into bailing ship.  He had set his activation point at a safe level so that small fluctuations would not have accidentally kicked in the order. 

  Josh flipped on the calculator and punched in a few numbers.  Twenty five thousand, two hundred and fifty two dollars.  He couldn’t wait for Carol to come home.  She had been so worried about her two weeks’ notice.  He had just made close to her entire salary for one year.  She would probably view this as a sign that it was okay to leave her job. 

  He would have to stay glued to his screen today.  News items and rumors only affected stock values momentarily.  As soon as everyone realized that the Dominex building was still standing and they were still peddling drugs, the value would most likely recover.  He would ride this out, but would probably have to bail very soon.  He could switch in mainstream and ride it in the opposite direction, but with all the other floating issues Dominex was having, he was not willing to take the risk.  Not with twenty-five grand in his pocket.  He had a feeling that this was only the tip of the news story iceberg.  There was a much greater opportunity here.  He didn’t mind the wait.

  Josh keyed in a stop loss that would protect his investment.  If Dominex’s stock value suddenly began to rise, he would be out.

      

  Carol sat in her office maintaining the responsible employee pose.  She would not ever be accused of bailing when things got tough.  Spears had already passed her in the hall and had made no comment about her resignation.  Probably too busy celebrating, she thought. 

  Carol wasn’t taking any new patients for obvious reasons.  Since there was no one in the manager’s chair and Spears was not acknowledging her departure, Carol took it upon herself to begin the transition.  She had her entire caseload on a print-out in front of her and was beginning to notate case management assignments when she remembered the AJC reporter.  She had promised to contact him with information.